Wire drawing block and stripper assembly



Nov. 10, 1953 E. J. M ILVRIED WIRE DRAWING BLOCK AND STRIPPER ASSEMBLY 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1950 INVENTOR. EDWIN J. MEILVRI ED.

BY 1 3 ATTORAE'YS.

Nov. 10, 953 E. J. MQILVRIED WIRE DRAWING BLOCK AND STRIPPER ASSEMBLY 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1950 0 RE mm mm mm M W W D E ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 WIRE DRAWING BLOCK AND STRIPPER ASSEMBLY Edwin J.McIlvried, Stow, Ohio, assignor to The Vaughn Machinery Company,Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 21,1950, Serial No. 196,806

6 Claims.

This invention relates as indicated to a wire drawing block and stripperassembly, and more particularly to a wire drawing block and ridingstripper adapted for the accumulation of an unusually large bundle ofwire before it becomes necessary to remove the same.

As wire is drawn through a die and wound upon a take-up block, it is, ofcourse, subjected to very considerable tension and is wound very tightlyabout the block or drum making it difficult for the lowermost turn ofwire to force the preceding turns upwardly. The block is conventionallyprovided with a radius in its lower wireengaging portion so that thecomponent of thrust of the lowermost turn of wire is not directlyupwardly but, rather, at an angle. When, because of friction and theaccumulated weight of previous turns of wire making up the coil orbundle, the lowermost turn is no longer able to force such precedingturns upwardly, it will override the next preceding turn, whereupon thedrawing operation must then be interrupted and the accumulated bundle ofwire removed. The more frequently this occurs, the less efficient thedrawing operation, since not only is down time increased and theattention of a skilled operator required, but also most difficultiesencountered in wire drawing operations develop when starting themachines. It is highly desirable that a drawing operation when oncecommenced should continue as long as possible.

It is accordingly a primary object of my invention to provide a wiredrawing block and stripper assembly capable rf accumulating a very largebundle of wire thereon before it becomes necessary to interrupt thedrawing operation for removal of the bundle.

Another object is to provide a wire drawing block and riding stripperassembly capable of accumulating a very large bundle or coil ofuntangled wire before overriding of the wire on the block necessitatesremoval of such bundle.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following de scription and the annexeddrawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the variousways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through my new wire drawing blockand stripper assembly taken on the line l--| on Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of such block;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View diametrically of the block andstripper assembly;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a modification of theblock construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper portion of thestripper device; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail View taken on the line fii on Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to said drawing, the embodiment of myinvention there illustrated comprises the usual housing I seated in anopening 2 in bench 3 and including a gear box in which the lower end ofspindle is journalled in appropriate thrust bearing ii. The usual fillerplug 7 and drain plug 8 are provided for such gear box. Spindle 5 isalso journalled in an upper bearing 9 within upper extension it of suchgear box and is driven in the usual manner by worm gear I I keyedthereon in driven engagement with worm l2 on shaft 13 driven by electricmotor [4.

Apron i5 is carried by spaced bearings 16 and I! on upper extension Ill,such latter bearings having an axis slightly inclined to the axis ofspindle 5 so that any point on the surface of apron IE will be caused torock up and down once for each revolution. While the amount of relativeinclination desired will depend on the diameter of the wire to behandled, in a typical installation such inclination may amount toapproximately 1 to 5. A generally annular detachable hardened steelinsert it! will preferably be mounted in the inner periphery of suchapron to provide a wear-resistant wire engaging surface adjacent theouter surface of the drum H9.

The drum it comprises a generally cylindrical shell including a hubportion 20 keyed to spindle 5. Four equally spaced vertically extendingradial slots 2!, 22, 23 and 24! are provided in such drum to receive therespective feet of the riding stripper, as explained below.Corresponding extensions of such slots 25, 26, 2! and 28 are provided inapron [5.

Means are also provided interconnecting drum !9 and apron 5 for drivingof the latter by the former comprising an inner boss 29 on drum idhaving a vertically extending opening 38 therethrough. A wobble pin 3!is bolted in apron l5 having an upper ovoid end portion 32 receivedwithin wear-resistant sleeve 33 in opening 30 of boss 29. Consequently,as drum l9 rotates, apron !5 is caused to turn therewith, but provisionis 3 made for the relative rocking action of such apron resulting fromthe aforementioned misalignment of the axes of rotation of such drum andapron.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a modification of the above-describedconnecting means wherein a coil spring is employed instead of wobble in31. Spring .34 is secured within generally vertically extending sleeveor cylinder 35 mounted within drum or block IS, the lower end of suchspring extending downwardly beyond the lower end of sleeve 35 and beingreceived in cup '36-in apron I5. Such spring is relatively heavy andbeing enclosed except for the relatively short .extent intermediatesleeve 35 and. cupi13taffordsia-sufficiently rigid driving connectionbetween the drum and apron. On the other hand,-it-is,-of course,sufficiently flexible to accommodate the variation in angle between suchsleeve and 1 cup as the drum rotates as well as accommodating thenecessary axial compression and extension resulting from therelativerockingaction.

Spindle has an upper extension 31-terminating in ataperedend-adapted toreceive and guide the tubular centermember 3-8 of the riding stripper.The clevis 352 is provided at the upper endof tubular center member 33to'permit the stripper to be lifted from the blockwith its bundle ofaccumulated wire when desired. Four feet such-as l-fl :and-4i;a're;pivotally mounted at 2'42 and 43 on adjustable studs carried bycollar .44 fixed to the lower 'end of tubular member .38. Anupper-collar 45 is mountedfor reciprocation along tubular rmember -38and .is connected with the stripper feet by "means of links such as 46and 41. Obviously, when collar 45 is shifted upwardly, it willtend-.to'rock-the stripper feet outwardly and, conversely,whensuchcollar45 moves downwardly -along:member 38, the stripper feet will be .rockedinwardly. A collar 48 or bosses such T49 are welded to member :38 tolimit suchdownward=movement of collar :45. As best shown iniFig. 5, ayoke'50 is pivotally mounted on collar 45 and provided with a handle "5|for manipulation of the same. When the vriding stripper is mounted onthe block as shown in Figs. land 3, the stripper feet received in-slots2|, 22, 23 rand124of the block and correspondingextension slots in theapron will have been cammed outwardlyas shown, and collar=45 elevatedabove stop =48 or "49. Yoke '55] may then be swung inwardly-into Fig. 5:position so that downward sliding movement of collar '45 willbe'prevented when thestripper is lifted from the block by clevis 39. Thestripperfeet will consequently becaused to remain in extendedposition soas to carry'the accumulated'bundle of wire.

AsshowninFigpithe extension 3.! of spindle 5 and the stripper itselfwhich is adapted to be mounted thereon are unusually high to accommodatea correspondingly high coil or bundle of wire W. in fact, the strippermay desirably extend above the block three times the vertical extentofthewire engaging surface of such block oreven more. *The stripper neednot necessarily be of the collapsible type as illustrated anddescribed'butmay'instead be rigid. Theblock and strippershould,-however, be designed so that such stripper may ride the blockduring the drawing operation and the accumulation of wire thereon sincethe accumulated bundle may then be lifted from the block without thetangling which ordinarilyoccurs whena stripper is inserted within analready accumulated bundle.

As the drum or block [9 rotates, the wire W is, of course, wound thereonwhile engaging hardened insert [8 in apron 15. As the block continues toturn, such apron is canted (Fig. 3), ordinarily on the order of fromabout l5 pushing such lowermost turn of wire upwardly on the block. Suchlowermost'turn,*of course,.likewise pushes the preceding turns beforeit. This positive push-up action is effective even after a very largenumber of turns have been accumulated on thedrum or block and ridingstripper, so that the drawing operation may be continued long past thepoint when overriding of the lowermost turn of :wire wouldotherwise haveoccurred. It has beenfound'possible, for example, by employment ofapparatus in accordance with my invention, to accumulate on the order of600 pounds of .033 inch diameter wire before it becomes necessary tointerrupt the drawing operation, whereas previously from 60 to pounds ofsuch wire were all that could be accumulated before overridingandtangling would occur.

When the'accumulated bundle has been lifted from the drum 'or block, thestripper may be transported'to another stationand mounted on anappropriate spindle so that the wire maybe unwound therefrom as .may ibe required forthe next operation to .be performed thereon. In view ofthe fact that it is thus possible to obtain a bundle comprising anexceptionally .long length of wire in'untangled .condition, thenecessity of first rewinding such wire ona spool or reel beforeutilizing the same in such subsequentoperation'is avoided. Inaddition'to roundwire, it will, of course, be appreciated that othersimilar articles such :as flat wire the smaller sizes :of tubing, etc.,are adapted to'be'handledbymynew drum or block and riding stripperassembly. The combination of the push-up feature with the oversizeriding stripper clearly makes possible the obtaining of veryconsiderable economies inall such drawing operations.

As :illustrated in the drawing, since the-drum or block itself is notprovided with the usual radius .in its lower wire-engaging portion, theforce exerted against the'lowermost turn of wire, and thereby againstthe'preceding turns, is substantially directly upwardly, whereby anarrangement is achieved effective to push up a much greater weight ofwire. Relative sliding action between adjacent turns of wire, whichin-the past has tended to scratch the same, is also thereby avoided.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the'details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbeemployed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In wire drawing mechanism including a rotatable wire drawing block,the combination o'fan annular apron closely encircling said block andmounted for rotation about an axis at a slight angle to said block,means flexibly interconnecting said block and apron for rotation of saidapron with said block whereby said apron is caused to rock slightlyrelative to said block, drive means for said block, a wear-resistantinsert secured to said apron adjacent the outer periphery of said blockadapted to engage the lowermost turn of wire wound onsaid blockand topush the same upwardly as said apron rocks, aligned radial grooves insaid block and apron adapted to receive the feet of a wire stripper, awire stripper comprising a frame having feet received in such grooves,said stripper resting on said block for rotation therewith and extendingupwardly above said block a distance approximately three times thevertical extent of the wire-engaging surface of said block, andcoopcrating positioning means on said block and stripper extendingaxially of said block.

2. In wire drawing mechanism including a rotatable wire drawing block,the combination of an annular apron closely encircling said block andmounted for rotation about an axis at a slight angle to said block,means flexibly interconnecting said block and apron for rotation of saidapron with said block whereby said apron is caused to rock slightlyrelative to said block, drive means for said block, a riding strippermounted on said block for rotation therewith, and an upwardly extendingaxial shaft on said block, said stripper having an axial tubular portionadapted to cooperate therewith for positioning of the same on said blockand to facilitate mounting of said stripper after removal from saidblock with an accumulated coil of wire whereupon such wire may beunwound from said stripper and conducted directly to further processingmechanism.

3. In wire drawing mechanism including a rotatable wire drawing block,the combination of an annular apron closely encircling said block andmounted for rotation about an axis at a slight angle to said block,means flexibly interconnecting said block and apron for rotation of saidapron with said block whereby said apron is caused to rock slightlyrelative to said block to push up the lowermost turn of wire thereon andthereby also the previous turns, drive means for said block and a ridingstripper removably mounted on said block for rotation therewith andextending upwardly Well above said block to receive a large accumulationof turns of wire thus pushed upwardly by said rocking apron.

4. In wire drawing mechanism including a rotatable wire drawing block,the combination of an annular apron closely encircling said block andmounted for rotation about an axis at a slight angle to said block,means flexibly interconnecting said block and apron for rotation of saidapron with said block comprising a coil spring secured within said blockand having an axis generally parallel to but eccentric of the axis ofsaid block whereby said apron is caused to rock slightly relative tosaid block to push up the lowermost turn of wire thereon and therebyalso the previous turns, drive means for said block and a ridingstripper removably mounted on said block for rotation therewith andextending upwardly well above said block to receive a large accumulationof turn of wire thus pushed upwardly by said rocking apron.

5. In wire drawing mechanism including a rotatable wire drawing block,the combination of an annular apron closely encircling said block andmounted for rotation about an axis at a slight angle to said block,means flexibly interconnecting said block and apron for rotation of saidapron with said block comprising a tubular receptacle mounted withinsaid block, an opposed tubular receptacle mounted in said apron, bothsaid receptacles being generally parallel to the axis of said block, anda coil spring fitted within said receptacles and extending therebetween.

6. In wire drawing mechanism including a rotatable wire drawing block,the combination of an annular apron closely encircling said block andmounted for rotation about an axis at a sli ht angle to said block, andresiliently flexible means interconnecting said block and apron forrotation of said apron with said block.

EDWIN J. MCILVRIED.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

